Immigrant Justice Action Group (IJAG)

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In keeping with our eight principles and as social justice allies, our mission is to support and enhance the rights of refugees, migrants, and immigrants in our community. We provide information; promote understanding and engagement of our fellow UU congregants to these ends.

IJAG hosts regular monthly events and meetings. For information about upcoming activities, please email ijag@firstunitarianportland.org.

The Immigrant Justice Action Group works to:

  • Take action to demonstrate and support immigrants as they express their needs.
  • Educate fellow congregants on issues facing immigrants in our community.
  • Support congregants in becoming allies to immigrants.
  • Interface with other organizations and faith groups in Portland working on immigration issues and actively participate in the Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice (IMIrJ).
  • Partner with action groups within the Social Justice Council recognizing the impact of white supremacy culture on all Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities and the power of collaboration.

We regularly participate in all-church informational and action-oriented programs that address issues and support immigrants and refugees in our community. Watch the Front Steps e-news each week for details.

To learn more about IJAG, read our narrative history written by founding members of our group:
“A History of the Immigrant Justice Action Group“

Immigrant Justice Organizations List

In January 2025, IJAG members compiled a list of organizations working on immigration justice and social justice. This list, which is not comprehensive, focuses primarily on local and (some) regional grassroots organizations. View here.

How Do We Protect Immigrants in Our Community?

This winter and spring, the Immigrant Justice Action Group (IJAG) and Advancing Racial Justice Action Group (ARJAG) are co-organizing a series of panel discussions on Zoom to help us learn the issues faced by immigrant communities and the groups that serve them and how we can best provide support. The next panel discussion is planned for Tuesday, March 4—please watch for notice in Front Steps. 

On January 28, more than 150 people participated in the first session, which featured informational presentations by VOZ Workers’ Rights Education Project, Innovation Law Lab, and Oregon for All Coalition. Watch the presentation here:

IJAG members have relationships with numerous local organizations supporting justice for immigrants. This is an anxious time and we are waiting to learn how our allies will respond. Below are a few organizations where IJAG members are currently involved. Please consider supporting these organizations now, as we work toward justice.

Bienestar “builds housing, hope, and community for the wellbeing of Latinx, immigrants, and all families in need”. To make a donation click here. For additional information about Bienestar, contact IJAG member Karen.

Immigrant Mutual Aid Coalition (IMAC) “provides support to Latinx and immigrant communities in Clackamas County”. A list of donation requests can be found here. For additional information about IMAC, contact IJAG members Ann or Lena.

Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice (IMIrJ) “accompanies and equips communities and people of faith in [Oregon] to advance immigrant justice through direct accompaniment of immigrants facing detention and deportation, policy advocacy at local, state and national levels, and collective action”.  To make a donation click here.  For more information about IMIrJ, contact IJAG member Mary Ann.

PCC’s Legal Resource Center assists Portland Community College students and the community in multiple ways including assisting dreamers with their DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) renewals. Every two years DACA recipients must submit a renewal application as pay a $495 filing fee. While the Legal Resource Centers are able to assist anyone with completing their paperwork, they only have funding to pay the filing fees for PCC students. If you would like to help fund a non-PCC student’s DACA fee you can donate by clicking here and selecting “Other”, and writing that you would like to cover DACA filing fees.  Many IJAG members regularly support these PCC services.

Refugee Care Collective serves diverse populations of refugees being resettled in the Portland Metro area,To learn more about getting involved, click here. Information about making a donation can be found here. For additional information about the Collective or to help make refugee care kits, contact IJAG member Margot.

Western Farm Workers Association (WFWA) is a membership organization of farm workers and other low-income workers working to improve living and working conditions for low-income workers and to reverse policies that have a negative impact on them. To learn more about getting involved, click here. For additional information about WFWA, contact IJAG member Laurie.

Our meetings will include time for reflection and sharing, information about the many dimensions of immigration, along with updates on actions we can take.

Image: Western Farm Workers Association (WFWA) back to school distribution (September 2021)